HALL OF FAME

For a tiny island, Jersey can boast some big names, from painters, poets and novelists to golfers and racing drivers, the most celebrated being the actress Lillie Langtry.

Lillie Langtry in all her glory.

Corbis

The nineteenth century saw political exiles and literati, lured by the coastal scenery and healthy climate, while in more recent times running from the Inland Revenue has been the main reason for celebrities to settle here.

Lillie Langtry 1853–1929

“She has no right to be intelligent, daring and independent as well as lovely.” (George Bernard Shaw). The only daughter of a philandering Rector of St Saviour and Dean of Jersey, Emilie Charlotte Le Breton was born in the parish of St Saviour in 1853. At 21 she married a wealthy widower, Edward Langtry, and two years later took London society by storm with her beauty, vivacity and charm. Among her many famous admirers were Oscar Wilde, who once referred to her as “the second Helen of Troy”, President Roosevelt, who noted “She’s so pretty she takes away man’s breath”. But the most famous admirer was the Prince of Wales, later to become Edward VII, a womaniser who took “the Jersey Lily” as his mistress. Many years later she caused further furore by becoming the first society woman to take to the stage. Lillie toured the US and South Africa as an actress, became a racehorse owner, and spent her last years in Monaco, where she died at the age of 75. She is buried in the graveyard of St Saviour’s Church, next to the rectory where she was born.

Jersey Connections

Sir Walter Raleigh (1552–1618). Governor of Jersey, who named Elizabeth Castle after his revered queen.

Victor Hugo (1802–85). Novelist, poet and dramatist who lived in Jersey from 1852–55.

Anthony Trollope (1815–82). The English novelist worked for the postal service for over thirty years, visited Jersey to research the delivery of mail and introduced the pillar box in St Helier in 1854 – the first in the British Isles.

George Eliot (1819–80). The novelist came to Jersey in 1857 with her lover, George Lewes, and was disowned by her family.

John Everett Millais (1829–96), a founder member of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood. He became a fashionable painter of portraits and genre pieces. His painting of Lillie Langtry, A Jersey Lily, is in the Jersey Museum.

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, founders of modern socialism, made several visits to Jersey between 1857 and 1885. This was probably for health reasons as they were hardly polite about the island, or its visitors.

Harry Vardon (1870–1937). Professional golfer. Winner of the American Open, the German Open and six times winner of the British Open. He was born in Grouville, Jersey.

Gerald Durrell (1925–95). Celebrated author and naturalist, who set up Jersey Zoo (now the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust) in 1959.

Jack Higgins (1929–2022, real name Harry Patterson). Author of over sixty novels, including The Fox, set in Jersey during the Occupation, and The Eagle has Landed. Lived in Jersey.

Nigel Mansell (b.1953). Former British racing driver who won the Formula One World Championship in 1992. Mansell moved to Jersey in 1997 and has a mansion at St Brelade’s Bay. His motoring memorabilia can be viewed at The Mansell Collection (www.themansellcollection.co.uk).

Henry Cavill (b.1983). The film star, perhaps best known for playing Superman/Clark Kent in Man of Steel and Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes, was born in St Helier.